Canada's Travis Smith has withdrawn from the men's sprint competition at the track cycling world championships, due to injuries sustained in a crash yesterday.

Smith, 26, from Calgary, crashed heavily on his right hip in the repechage round of the Keirin Friday morning, and was taken to hospital for X-rays. Although he had no broken bones, he did sprain his hip and was advised to withdraw by medical staff.

"It's disappointing because the one event I wanted to do the best in was the sprint," said Smith. "To be doing 10.2s and 10.3s in training the last few days and then not be able to compete, it sucks."

Though Bell was able to score points in three of the six intermediate sprints, he was unable to join one of several groups that lapped the field.

"I came into the race with a lot of speed and I rode a sprinters' race, but eight strong guys rode a lappers' race," said Bell "I should have been more aware, I guess. It's too bad, but Pan Ams is when things really start to count, so we'll just focus on that. "

The Pan American Championship in Venezuela in late May marks the beginning of the qualification process for the Beijing Olympic Games.